Policies & Procedures

The University of Pittsburgh has a number policies and procedures in place to protect students, faculty, and staff. If you believe you have experienced or witnessed a violation of these policies, please contact the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. If you need any accommodations, please let our office know or contact the Office of Disability Resources and Services.

Policies and the Code of Conduct

All members of the University community are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that does not infringe upon the rights of others. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in employment, or in its educational programs or other activities. Sexual misconduct that affects the educational or employment environment is a form of sexual discrimination. Such conduct violates this Policy, and generally also violates federal, state or local laws. The University of Pittsburgh is committed to the maintenance of a community free from sexual misconduct. Members of the community, guests and visitors have the right to be free from sexual misconduct, a broad term which is defined in Section IV below. When sexual misconduct occurs, the University will act to end the conduct, prevent its recurrence, and remedy the effects on both individuals and the University community, in accordance with the accompanying Procedure on Sexual Misconduct 06-05-01. This Policy and the accompanying Procedure shall serve as the only internal University forum of resolution and appeal of sexual misconduct complaints for members of the University community (except as noted in the Procedure on Sexual Misconduct 06-05-01). Discrimination which is not sexual misconduct under this Policy is subject to and should be analyzed under the University’s Nondiscrimination, Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Policy and Procedure 07-01-03 or other appropriate policy or procedure.

Student Code of Conduct

The Student Code of Conduct, which outlines policy and procedures for sexual harassment and sexual misconduct violations, is available as a pdf on the Student Affairs Web site.

Procedures

Sexual Misconduct Procedure 06-05-01 includes information on how complaints of sexual misconduct are investigated. This flowchart is a basic overview of the process. Please contact Title IX for additional information or questions.

Student Code of Conduct: Informal and Formal Processes

Examples of Unlawful Practices Under Title IX, as defined by the Clery Act the Violence Against Women Act

Sexual Assault is defined as any sexual act directed against another person, without consent of the victim, including instances where the victim is incapable of giving consent.

Rape is the penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus, with body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person, without the consent of the victim. This offense includes the rape of both males and females.

Fondling is the touching of the private body parts of another person for the purpose of sexual gratification, without the consent of the victim, including instances where the victim is incapable of giving consent because of his/her age or because of his/her temporary or permanent mental incapacity.

Incest is defined as sexual intercourse between persons who are related to each other within the degrees wherein marriage is prohibited by law.

Statutory Rape is defined as sexual intercourse with a person who is under the statutory age of consent.

Dating Violence is defined as violence committed by a person who is or has been in a social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the victim. The existence of such a relationship shall be determined based on the reporting party’s statement and with consideration of the length of the relationship, the type of relationship, and the frequency of interaction between the persons involved in the relationship. For the purposes of this definition— Dating violence includes, but is not limited to, sexual or physical abuse or the threat of such abuse.

Domestic Violence is defined as a felony or misdemeanor crime of violence committed:

By a current or former spouse or intimate partner of the victim;

By a person with whom the victim shares a child in common;

By a person who is cohabitating with, or has cohabitated with, the victim as a spouse or intimate partner;

By a person similarly situated to a spouse of the victim under the domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction in which the crime of violence occurred;

By any other person against an adult or youth victim who is protected from that person’s acts under the domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction in which the crime of violence occurred.

Stalking is defined as engaging in a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to:

Fear for the person’s safety or the safety of others; or

Suffer substantial emotional distress.

For the purposes of this definition:

Course of conduct means two or more acts, including, but not limited to, acts in which the stalker directly, indirectly, or through third parties, by any action, method, device, or means, follows, monitors, observes, surveils, threatens, or communicates to or about a person or interferes with a person's property.

Reasonable person means a reasonable person under similar circumstances and with similar identities to the victim.

Substantial emotional distress means significant mental suffering or anguish that may, but does not necessarily require medical or other professional treatment or counseling.

Title IX Office Hours

Community members are welcome to visit the Title IX Office during scheduled office hours without an appointment. Students can also call 412-648-4034 or email Danielle Brown to schedule an appointment outside of office hours.